Analysis of a downswing

[Paul Thomson]

BalugaWhale-

I thought this was great post. I think you've done a good job in addressing your leaks. With your mentality in the long run, I'm sure you'll be a winning player.

I thought I'd start the "discussion" on your emphasis about position. I think you might be OVER valueing the role of position and aggression in the games that you play. When you say, "So, I plan on tightening up SIGNIFICANTLY utg... and continuing to play my loose, raising style from LP." I think you are right to tighten up UTG, but I also think you should tighten up in late position, regardless of the action to you. The DECEPTION and IMAGE value gained by loose play in late position amounts to Fancy Play Syndrome in small stakes poker (regardless of full ring or 6max). DECEPTION is important if your opponents are playing your cards and not their own. But at SS, the vast majority of your opponents will not put you on a hand at all, instead they'll simply play their own cards and poorly probably at that. On a similar note, your IMAGE as a loose player is only important if you want your opponents to pay you off with mediocre holdings. The fact of that matter is that is the most common leak among small stakes players which is why value betting is so important. Your opponents will call you down with underpairs all day. So their is absolutely no reason to have to play marginal hands yourself in position. Simply play a tight game on the button and value bet, value bet and value bet.

In terms of playing OOP, I think it's not only important to play tight, but I also think it's important to control the size of the pot. I've found that playing a WA/WB type line, when OOP is often profitable. For example, if you raise with AQo UTG and the button calls. If the flop comes with Q high and theirs no flush or straight draw on the board, I suggest that you simply check-call. Your opponent will almost surely bet into you whether he has anything or not. I then might lead the turn or even check-call the turn depending on the habits of my opponent. On the other hand, if you call UTG with TJs and the button raises and you call. If the flops comes T high, then I'll lead the flop to protect my hand.

Another way I keep the pot small when OOP is to bet 3/4 of the pot vs a full pot with top pair hands. By making 3/4 bet sizes on the flop and turn will keep the pot significantly smaller, then making full size pots. This size bet will still usually not give your opponent the correct odds to call with most draws.

The last tactic I use to keep the pot small UTG is by making slightly smaller preflop raises of 3xBB. This will keep pots surprisingly significantly smaller when playing OOP.

I hope this helps and might get the discussion going on position. GL at building your bankroll.

PT